Stealthy Attacks Rise, Manufacturing Remains Top Target, APAC Exposed
IBM’s 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index reveals that manufacturing remained the most targeted industry for the fourth consecutive year, with attackers focusing on financial assets and intellectual property.
The report also highlights a shift to stealthier tactics, as identity-based attacks now account for 30% of intrusions, while ransomware cases, although still significant at 28% of malware incidents, showed an overall decline.
The Asia-Pacific region experienced the largest share of attacks in 2024, rising 13% year-on-year, reflecting its critical role in global supply chains and as a technology hub. IBM observed an 84% increase in phishing emails delivering infostealers, a key method for scaling identity-based attacks.
Mark Hughes, Global Managing Partner of Cybersecurity Services at IBM, stressed the need for proactive security measures such as modernised authentication, multi-factor authentication, and real-time threat hunting to protect sensitive data across complex hybrid cloud environments.
